had been a long time shipped, and had manifested their discontent in a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Navy, in which they objected to being transferred to a younger and new set of officers. The plan I adopted was at once to send them on shore on liberty, and thus show entire confidence in them. To my great surprise, they returned, to a man, showing that no disposition adverse to the service existed among them, and that the bad feeling was nothing more than what might naturally be expected to result from a long confinement on board of a ship, in sight of their homes, and the constant disappointment they had met with in a delayed departure. From this circumstance, and the prospect of no further detention, their spirits revived, and great activity prevailed in all the departments to forward the preparations. All the instruments had been brought from New York in the Macedonian, under care of Lieutenant Carr. Part of them, including the Chronometers, had been landed at the Naval Asylum, where a Portable Transit had been put up, for rating them. The instruments appertaining to Magnetism and the Pendulums were carried to Washington, to make the necessary experiments.

The depot of charts and instruments on Capitol Hill, was selected to make the series of observations at. These occupied my own time until sailing.

On the 26th of July, Martin Van Buren, the President of the United States, accompanied by Mr. Paulding, Secretary of the Navy, and Mr. Poinsett, Secretary of War, did us the honour to visit the Vincennes. On this occasion, and the only one during the continuance of my command, a salute was fired, (none of the instruments had then been embarked,) by all the vessels, and the yards were manned. This produced a good effect on all, for it showed us that a watchful eye was kept over us, and that much interest was felt in the undertaking. This visit formed an epoch to which I often heard reference made during the cruise. Few are able to estimate the feelings of satisfaction that such acts occasion to those engaged in undertakings like this.

I shall now proceed to give a description of the vessels that composed the Squadron.

The Vincennes was a sloop of war, of seven hundred and eighty tons, originally single-decked, but in consequence of the intended cruise, a light deck was put on her for the protection of the men, and to afford more room. The accommodations thus became those of a small frigate.

The Peacock was of smaller size, a sloop of war of six hundred and fifty tons, originally built for this service in 1828, with a deck like that of the VinShe had made two cruises previous to her sailing in 1838.

cennes.

The Porpoise, a gun-brig of two hundred and thirty tons. The experience I had had in this vessel induced me to ask for an alteration, which was made, and added much to her safety, as well as increased her accommodations. This was to build a poop-cabin and a forecastle on her deck.

The tenders Sea-Gull and Flying-Fish were New York pilot-boats. The former had been known as the New Jersey, of one hundred and ten tons; the latter as the Independence, of ninety-six tons. They were purchased on the 3d of August. Their masts, sails, &c., were reduced, and their outfits completed in the short space of three days, by those enterprising shipwrights, Messrs. Webb and Allen of New York, to whom much credit is due. They joined the Squadron on the 12th of August, in Hampton Roads.

The Relief was a new vessel, originally intended for a store-ship for the Navy, but had been transferred to the Expedition on being launched. She was built for carrying, and her slow rate of sailing made her ill adapted for the cruise.

The Expedition is much indebted to Commodore Ridgely and the officers of the Brooklyn Navy-Yard. To Commodore Downes and Captain Percival, of the Boston Navy-Yard, we are also under great obligations. The boats prepared under the direction of the last named officers, were found to be well adapted for the service. They were all clinker-built, with the exception of the launches, and of the description used by whalers and sealers.

After the Peacock's return in 1837, she had undergone little or no repairs. Her bottom was indeed sound, being built of live-oak, but her upper-works were worn and much decayed, as the sequel proved. After this vessel left the NavyYard at Norfolk, her fore and cross-jackyards were found by her commander to be rotten. On its being reported to the commandant of the yard, they were ordered to be replaced, and all the other defects partially remedied.

The carpenter of the Washington Navy-Yard, Mr. J. H. Smoot, built for me, under order of the Commissioners of the Navy, a very convenient portable pendulum-house and observatory, which answered every purpose for which it was intended.

The organization of this Expedition has frequently been a subject of remark. I have therefore obtained all the papers that passed between the government and Captain Hudson, in relation to it, prior to his accepting the position he occupied. They form, with a few remarks, the first pages of the Appendix to this volume, and will place the whole in its true light.

The Narrative will fully show the part he has taken in carrying out the

instructions of the Department, and I must acknowledge and return my thanks to him for the aid he afforded me in the arduous duties that devolved upon me. To Lieutenant Cadwalader Ringgold, the commander of the Porpoise, I am indebted, for his hearty co-operation in the duties that devolved upon the Expedition. The efficient manner in which he at all times held his command, and the promptness with which he carried out the duties assigned him, merit my warmest acknowledgments and thanks.

The best encomium I can bestow on the united efforts of the officers and men, is to refer the reader to the Hydrographical Atlas, and the details in the Narrative of the duties which have been performed.

In the observatory duties and pendulum observations, I was principally assisted by Lieutenant Carr, Passed Midshipmen Eld and Blunt, and Mr. Howison. I deem it my duty to speak of the devotedness of Assistant-Surgeons Fox and Holmes, who, besides attending to their engrossing medical duties and meteorological observations, manifested the utmost zeal in collecting and making researches in the various departments of natural history. They also frequently assisted in the surveys, and I found them ever ready to engage in any thing that could promote the success of the Expedition.

It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the credit that is due, and the obligations I feel under to Mr. R. R. Waldron and Mr. William Spieden, Pursers attached to the Expedition, for their promptness in procuring the supplies, and at all times forwarding the business of the Expedition; none of the departments of the service were more efficient than that over which they had control.

Since our return, Lieutenants Carr, Budd, Totten, and Eld, with Mr. F. D. Stuart, who were attached to the Expedition, have been engaged under my direction in recalculating and revising our numerous surveys, previous to their being engraved.

To Messrs. Drayton and Agate, the Artists of the Expedition, I feel it due to make known how constantly and faithfully they have performed their duties. The illustrations of these volumes will bear ample testimony to the amount of their labours, and the accuracy with which they have been executed.

Mr. Drayton has had the management of the whole engraving department assigned him by the Committee of the Library, and has accomplished what very few believed could be done in this country. The distribution of the work among the engravers has given general satisfaction, not only to the Committee, but to the artists themselves, and has afforded a national encouragement to this description of art, the benefit of which it will long continue to feel.

To Mr. Drayton I owe many acknowledgments for his constant and untiring zeal in all the departments of the Expedition, not only during the continuance of the Expedition, but since its return, while acting in concert with me in preparing the illustrations of the Narrative for the press. I cannot but congratulate myself that we should have been so fortunate in having one attached to the Expedition so well adapted to encounter, and from his former experience to overcome, the difficulties we have had to contend with in the progress of the publication.

The country is particularly indebted to the Joint Committees of the successive Congresses who have had the execution of the law for the publication of the results of the Exploring Expedition entrusted to them. They have afforded me all the assistance I could desire; and through the facilities obtained, I have been

* Members of the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress, at the second Session of the Twenty-seventh Congress:

enabled to bring the Narrative to completion at a much earlier day than I at first anticipated.

To the Hon. Benjamin Tappan especially, I feel under obligations for the great interest he has ever taken in the Expedition. The law for the publication was originally reported by him; he was at an early day appointed the Agent of the Committee to superintend the whole work in its progress; and it has afforded me great pleasure, as well as satisfaction, to co-operate with one so competent to the task.

Since 1845, the Hon. James A. Pearce, U. S. Senator, has been chairman of the Joint Library Committee, and has had the direction of the whole work. I need only refer to his several able reports, to show the effectual progress of the publication of the results of the Exploring Expedition under his efficient guidance, and that it will be a lasting monument, alike honourable to the country and to all those who have been engaged in it.

I am aware that some dissatisfaction was occasionally felt at the outset by a few of the naturalists, because they were not allowed all the opportunities they desired of making investigations. It was not to be supposed, from the many interests, and their inexperience in naval duties, that all could agree that the particular objects of their several departments received the proper consideration. Each would naturally look upon his own as the most important. They were not aware of my instructions, and of the duties that were enjoined upon me; and I think did not take into consideration the loss of time I had met with from various causes, and that my intentions were at times unexpectedly frustrated. Besides, it was my duty to look to the essential objects of the Expedition, which were entirely unknown to them. They are now, after the cruise has passed, I believe, fully satisfied that it was not possible, without sacrificing the greater interests, to give more attention than I did to subordinate parts.

I cannot avoid bearing testimony to their perseverance, industry, zeal, and strict conformity to the rules and regulations laid down for the government of us all. The result of their labours will shortly be before the public, and will show the manner in which they have performed their duties. They messed with the wardroom officers, and received all the privileges, respect, and attention due to that rank.

In the following Narrative, it may perhaps be necessary to state, that although our time was limited to a few days at some of the places we visited, yet the number of officers and gentlemen engaged under my command, enabled me to have every thing worthy of notice examined. The result of our observations, I am